Brussels, 24/08/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to allocate an additional EUR 13 million to the World Food Programme. Two days ago, this was said to be "under examination" (see EUROPE of 23 August, p.3). The aid comes in addition to a contribution of EUR 90 million decided in July for which a contract is to be signed this Friday or Saturday by Commissioner Poul Nielson.
The announcement of this new contribution comes just a few days after the accusations made by a WFP spokesman who affirmed that the United Nations programme had not yet received any Community aid this year. The press release announcing the contribution contains a further denial of these accusations and recalls that 136,000 tonnes of food aid have already been provided for the WFP this year.